WHY BUY A PIANO COVER - WHY BUY AMERICAN MADE
Piano covers are the only way to protect your valuable instrument, and are quite common in homes. The substantial protection they offer from damage is also vital for pianos located in public places and places of high traffic, including universities, churches, hotels, concert halls, schools, auditoriums, and resorts. Below are some of the main reasons why you should buy a piano cover.
Piano Covers protect your piano from physical damage, including scratches and chips:
A grand piano cover acts as an important barrier between the wood surface of your piano and the surroundings. A piano does scratch fairly easily, and repairing and refinishing one can cost thousands of dollars (take it from someone who had a piano floor lamp fall over on their piano...). A piano cover will help prevent those dings and scratches.
A piano cover can help reduce the sound while playing:
Many customers live in situations where the noise of the piano is an issue. People in apartments frequently ask how they can make their pianos quieter, and try various things from caster cups to stapling thick blankets to the underside of the piano. One great way to control sound levels is to get a quilted piano cover. With the slits in a cover (they are approximately where the legs are), it is possible to flip over the front section of the piano cover and play the piano--as opposed to having to take the entire cover off to play. Keeping a quilted cover on, helps reduce the sound. We've had customers tell us they feel it reduces sound 30-40% even.
A piano cover protects your piano from sunlight damage:
UV rays damage the finish of your piano, and are the number one cause for premature aging of your instrument. The sun can create hairline cracks in the finish and can lead to fading or darkening. If your piano is exposed to a lot of sunlight, a piano cover is a worthy investment, and highly recommended.
Note that if your piano is exposed to a lot of sunlight, and you live in a warmer climate, you will want to get a quilted or mackintosh cover. Vinyl traps heat, so you would not want a vinyl cover in this situation.
Piano covers protect your piano from dust:
Dust gets everywhere, including inside your piano. Dust and grime on the wood or lacquer finish of the piano can be abrasive, and dust and dirt gathering on the keys will eventually cause them to stick and become difficult to play. Even wiping the dust off the piano can lead to scratching it. Dust damages the inside of your piano as well-- dust that accumulates by the tuning pins, the string bearing felts or the dampers will over time take their toll on your piano.
Piano covers protect your piano from humidity and temperature changes:
Changes in humidity and weather are harmful to your piano, and cause it to go out of tune. If you live in a humid climate, it is recommended that you purchase a piano cover, as it will help maintain the atmosphere.
Piano Covers are great for those with pets - especially cats:
We all love our cats, but they have a tendency to want to jump on top of the piano, and even crawl inside and sleep on the strings. A piano cover is great for preventing the cat from scratching the finish, as well as keeping him or her outside of the piano (cat hair in the piano is never good!). Something to consider: if you think your cat will want to sharpen his claws on the cover, we recommend buying a vinyl cover over a nylon quilted cover. Cats are not as likely to try and sharpen their claws on vinyl.
Piano Covers offer protection from liquid:
Restaurants, clubs, hotels, banquet halls and resorts often buy a piano cover to help prevent damage from drinks. People love to put their drink on a piano, leaving a ring on the finish. You also have to worry about someone knocking over a drink, and damaging the inside of the instrument. All cover materials offer a certain level of protection from liquid, but if you are really worried about spills, we recommend a quilted cover. A vinyl cover offers a nice, flat surface to set a drink down on. The padded quilted material, on the other hand, does not look as stable, and from our experience, people tend not to put drinks on quilted covers
Storing your Piano:
If you will be storing your piano for months at a time, for example in a summer home where it is not used, it is a good idea to get a cover. Unused and unprotected pianos age quicker, and go out of tune faster. Keeping it covered will help control the humidity, and keep out the dust.
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Should I get a Macintosh quilted or vinyl cover?
Choosing between mackintosh and vinyl depends largely upon where your cover will be used. Consider the following:
Vinyl Piano Covers:
Vinyl is very easy to wipe clean when wet, is lightweight which allows our customers to easily remove and place back on the piano, and is easily cleaned by using either a damp cloth or by vacuuming. If your piano is in a highly visible and in a location where many people will be around, vinyl tends to be the best fabric for your piano cover. If liquids will be near your piano and there is a chance of spilling (or people putting a cup on top of the cover and leaving a ring), you will want a vinyl cover. Vinyl, within reason, will not absorb the liquid and leave a stain (anything spilled on mackintosh will be absorbed if not quickly blotted). Additionally, vinyl comes in more color choices than the standard black and brown that you will find with mackintosh and quilted covers.
Here is a picture of a vinyl cover
Mackintosh Piano Covers:
Mackintosh is exceptionally tough and durable and well suited for use in schools, churches, theaters and studios. Mackintosh is thicker than vinyl, and offers more protection from bumps and scratches. Mackintosh has a warmer look than vinyl, and many people prefer its cloth look to that of vinyl. Furthermore, mackintosh breathes more than vinyl. Vinyl traps heat, so if your piano gets a lot of sunlight, you will want to get a mackintosh cover. A downside to mackintosh is that it is harder to clean. It cannot be wiped down with a wet cloth like vinyl. The best way to clean it is with a vacuum.
Quilted Piano Covers:
Quilted covers offer a luxurious appearance, and look very professional. They are our most popular seller. For an image example, see: Black Quilted Grand Piano Cover. The extra padding provides additional protection against physical damage. Our premium quilt covers are especially effective against damage from blunt trauma, and they are also water resistant. Quilted covers are the lightest and easiest to remove.
Want to see examples of the fabric choices? Click: piano cover material options
What Color Piano Cover Should I get?
If you have a black piano, you should get a black piano cover. Walnut and Mahogany pianos should typically go with a brown cover. Room decor can be a consideration however. If your room has warm, earth-tone colors, a cloth couch and other fabric covered furniture, then a brown cover might look better regardless of the color of your piano. Additionally, vinyl comes in burgundy, white, and tan (sand) color options, allowing you to closer match the style of your room (mackintosh and quilt covers only come in brown and black). If you have vinyl or leather furniture, you may also want to get a vinyl cover as wwell.
Piano Covers with Embroidered Brand Logo
For an additional fee, it's possible to add the name of your piano to either the front of the piano above the keys, or to the side of the piano (where the sideboard is). This is a wonderful way to highlight the brand of your piano, even when it is covered. Custom embroidery is also an option, and something to consider for schools, hotels, resorts, sports team fans, etc. Also popular is adding a more personal touch, including "donated by" and "in memory of." If you are interested in a custom embroidered logo, please email us with details.
Are Certain piano covers too heavy for some people to take on and off? The difference in fabric weight.
The weight of a piano cover can be a concern for those taking it on and off, though in general, all the covers should be easy to handle. Quilted covers are the lightest and easiest to remove, making it a favorite among our more mature customers. It is also a great option for nursing homes and church groups. Vinyl covers are heavier than quilted covers, but should not be an issue to take on and off for the vast majority of users. Quilted Mackintosh is the heaviest of the 3 materials, and is designed to be used in places where extra protection is needed (schools, churches, etc.). Again, the weight of the cover will not be a concern for most customers.
Keep in mind that covers cannot be made too thick or heavy, as they would hold too much heat next to the piano and cause it to go out of tune.
Locking Straps for a Grand Piano Cover. Do you need them? How do they work?
Locking straps are a popular option when the piano is in an area where people will want to remove the cover and play it. The straps keep the cover in place, and act as an effective barrier against tampering. Many schools, hotels, resorts and churches add this option to ensure their piano stays safe and sound. The straps are also a good idea if you are getting the cover to store your piano.
How do locking straps work? There are 3 straps sewn into the cover--one by each of the front legs and one at the back of the piano. The straps meet underneath the piano in the middle, forming a "Y" shape (note larger covers will use 4 straps, forming an "X" shape). At the end of each strap is a plastic D-ring. You turn one of the rings sideways and insert it through the other D-ring. When you turn it back, they will now be interconnected (as shown in the picture above). The cover is now securely on the piano, and the straps need to be disconnected in order to remove the cover and play. Note that if you need additional security, you can add a padlock to the D-rings, completely preventing someone from removing the cover without having the key to the padlock.
Return Policy
At AmericanPianoCovers.com, we strive to provide high-quality custom-made piano covers that meet your specific requirements. We understand the importance of customer satisfaction and aim to address any concerns regarding our products.
Please note that all of our covers are custom-made for you upon your order, so it's important to order the right size piano cover. We understand returns do happen, but we do our best to make sure you get the correct cover before you order, as we're often unable to resell returned covers.
Items must be returned or exchanged within 30 days of receipt, in new, unused condition. For returned piano covers, there is a 15% restocking fee to help cover original shipping fees. Please note that custom-made piano covers, such as upright piano covers and covers made from templates you mail in, cannot be returned, so please be careful when measuring your piano. If you have any questions, please contact us
Shipping & Handling Time
Our piano covers are manufactured in the United States, and custom-made for you upon your order. Covers typically ship out within 4-8 business days after ordering, and will come to you via FedEx/UPS ground shipping. We will email you the tracking number to you when your order ships.
Please note that embroidery is done out of the shop by a professional embroidery company, so that can add some time to your cover production time.
Shipping To Canada
We are happy to ship to Canada, however, our free shipping prices are set for the contiguous United States. Shipping to Canada is an additional fee of $89.99 per piano cover. On the shopping cart checkout page, please select the Canada shipping option in the menu.
Shipping for our popular felt piano key covers is $25.95 to Canada.
For our international customers, please email us for a shipping quote. We will need the delivery address, along with the specifics of the piano cover, including the make, model, and exact size of your piano, your chosen material, and any additions, such as side slits.
Piano Cover Length. Should I get a standard or full length cover?
A standard piano cover hangs 1"-2" below the bottom of the base of your piano. This is the most popular option, and is cover you want in almost all situations. Full length covers that run all the way to the floor can be custom ordered for an additional fee (approximately $80, depending on the size of the piano cover). A situation where you would want a full length cover is if you lived in an extremely dusty part of the country. A full length cover would help prevent dust from getting underneath and into your piano. If you are interested in a full length piano cover, please email us the brand and size of your piano, and we will provide you a price quote.
Purchase Orders
We accept purchase orders from schools, colleges, government organizations, religious institutions, etc. To purchase using a purchase order, please email us the signed documents on the institutions letterhead. A W9 form can be provided.